Roger Daltrey Accuses Zak Starkey of “Character Assassination” Following Drummer’s Dismissal from The Who

Roger Daltrey of The Who has leveled serious allegations of “character assassination” against former drummer Zak Starkey after Starkey’s dismissal from the band.

Starkey’s tenure with The Who ended in May amid a flurry of confusing reports, with Pete Townshend ultimately stating that “the time has come for a change.” Starkey, who has been the band’s drummer since 1996 and is also the son of Ringo Starr, played his last shows with the band at the Royal Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust in March. Following those performances, tensions reportedly began to surface between him and the rest of the group.

In a recent interview, Starkey shared his side of the story, stating that he was asked by Daltrey to publicly apologize and acknowledge dropping beats during performances. He humorously referenced doing so with a duck playing drums, a character from an upcoming music video. However, things escalated quickly, leading to Daltrey claiming that he couldn’t continue working with Starkey afterward, prompting Starkey’s eventual dismissal.

Reflecting on the situation, Daltrey told The Times, “It felt like a character assassination, and it was incredibly upsetting.” He recounted that during the Royal Albert Hall shows, a sound issue made it difficult for him to communicate with Starkey, ultimately leading to misunderstandings.

Despite the turmoil, Starkey maintains that his relationship with the band remains strong. “I still talk to Roger weekly and text with Pete often,” he said. Starkey noted a recent conversation with Daltrey, where the singer hinted that Starkey might still be needed in the future, adding to the confusion surrounding his status with The Who.

After Starkey’s departure, The Who announced that Scott Devours would be taking over as their new drummer. Devours, who has previously worked with Daltrey, expressed the weight of responsibility he feels stepping into Starkey’s role, especially knowing how fans might feel about the transition.

The Who’s farewell tour is set to kick off in Florida on August 16, with additional stops planned in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York. Click here for tickets..